City council okays Alatex cleanup
Work to clean up toxins in the historical Alatex building could begin in January.
Plans for a pharmacy school in downtown Crestview have been on hold pending the removal of asbestos and lead-based paint from the 1930s-era building that once housed a sewing factory.
Monday night, the Crestview City Council conditionally approved a bid of $98,450 submitted by Tallahassee-based Cason Environmental & Demolition Services to remove the contaminants.
Final approval is pending a written contract to be reviewed by council attorney Ben Holley.
Four companies bid on the work, with the high bid of $197,670 submitted by Cross Environmental Services.
Wayne Steele, city public services director, said officials with Cason Environmental said it would take 120 days to complete the cleanup once work begins.
The contaminants would be removed, placed in sealed dumpsters and hauled away to an approved dumpsite, Steele said.
Florida A&M University wants to open a campus for pharmacy students in the two-story building and has pledged $10.2 million in renovations.
Council members voted a year ago to give the city-owned building to FAMU, but university officials said they could not accept fee-simple title until the contaminants are cleaned from the building.
Money for the work will come from $100,000 remaining of a $336,000 certificate of deposit that had matured and was cashed in by the city, Finance Director Patti Beebe said.
Some $226,000 of the money was used to renovate the George H. Whitehurst Municipal Building, which recently opened as the new police headquarters.
Since FAMU has not accepted fee simple title to the building, there is no guarantee they will move in once the work is completed. Of the $10.2 million in renovations planned for the school, the university only has $2.5 million in hand in the form of state budget appropriations.
“We cannot make them accept it,” Holley said. “That will be their decision.”
Council member Linda Parker wanted to know if city staff had been in contact with FAMU officials recently to discuss new developments.
“I have not been in contact with them for a while,” Mayor David Cadle said
Regardless of FAMU’s decision,, the city can’t do anything with the building the way it is, not even tear it down, Holley pointed out. The Environmental Protection Agency requires the removal of all hazardous materials from buildings slated for renovation or demolition.
